Grandpa was a Veteran

Yes, Jay Ford Rosenberg joined the men returning from the Second World War that formed a long line of men to wear what was called the "Ruptured Duck". A small lapel pin that let all
who saw it know that, "this man" had served in one of the branches of armed services. It also was a sign he had joine the "52/20 club". Every returning veteran with an honorable discharge or "legal separation" from the service, received $20.00 each week for 52 weeks. A small amount until hopefully a job could be found. A "legal separation" meant the Veteran was no
longer actively serving, but had not yet filled his alotted time in his enlistment. Jay had one of
those. He was given the opportunity to go into the "active reserve" or "inactive reserve". If he was "active" he would attend "drill" once a month and give two weeks active duty each year.
If he was "inactive", which Jay was, you were on reserve status with a chance of immediate call back when, and if needed.
During the War factories that had made appliances were turned into manufacturers of military
equipment or supplies. Cars were not made by Auto Manufactures, but tanks, jeeps and trucks were being turned out in large numbers for the Services. Airplane Plants were busy with building, designing and putting out all sorts of bombers and pursuit planes. It was the end of
the "great depression" and the beginning of the new day of prosperity, but with a high price in
men and materials.
Women had left their homes to fill the many jobs that were created. Work permits were issued to teen-agers so they could work part time and go to school part time. I was one of those who
filled the jobs that some women had left to go into War Work and make much better money. In many cases these women were helping support their families while their husbands "went to war".
When the Veterans began returning, first in a trickle and then by flood, there were more men than jobs. Women were working, and enjoying their new status in life. Plants had to go back to what they had been doing which ment they had to "retool" and start putting out newer and different kinds of refrigerators, washers and something new "clothes dryers". Automatic washers became the new "thing" as well. Television was just getting started then, and not many had money for one, and the programs were limited to the afternoon and evenings. The screens were "small" and everything was in "black and white". Change was the name of the day. Women were returning to their kitchens and their returning men were finding new employment with new jobs developed by the fortunes of war.
Prosperty took on a new face. Housing was needed, so the Orange Groves of California were
turned into Track Housing. The Veterans Administration was backing loans for the returning Veterans, so money was available under the GI Bill for purchasing a home. Many of these new families had opportunities their parents had never had, owning a home. Of course with all the new homes, furniture and appliances became needed, so slowly the economy regained its strength with new needs and demands.
The GI Bill also afforded those Veterans who had the desire to further their education to go to College and become Doctors, Lawyers, Financial Planners, etc. It was a time of change for the Country, and opportunities that had not been seen before. The "Baby Boom" was on. It was a time for new development. With all the new homes going in, shopping availability was also in demand - the Shopping Mall came into being. What had once been the "main street" of the town, now faded into Strip Malls in each area to accomodate the expanding city limits. New
towns were formed which expanded the community needs for Fire Departments and Police or Sheriff Departments. County services were stretched until they had to be supported by local services. Trash collection and other local sevices such as street sweeping had to be added. It
made new jobs which were paid for by the new taxes that were raised by the communities that were popping up. Open spaces were soon filled with buildings and the Veterans were able to
enjoy a life style that changed the look and the status of the entire nation.
Knotts Berry Farm that had once been out in the middle of wide open spaces was now encompassed by "housing tracts". It began to expand from a fruit stand to a Resturant and Ghost Town and the building continued. Shortly it was joined by Disney Land which took out more of the Orange Groves. What change, and what a shame. When once you could drive almost anywhere and smell the Orange Blossoms, now were hundreds of roof tops and busy Malls filling their space. Once a Bride would never think of not having Orange Blossoms in her Wedding Bouquet, now they were seldom seen, or smelled. Some things I guess must be sacrificed for progress. I can still remember looking across the Orange Groves to the Mountains and what a gorgeous sight. Blue skies and a view that was stunning. Now you can't see the Mountains for the Smog. The Orange Groves have returned, but they have moved out and away from all the building and hussle bussle of the cities that take up the space they once enjoyed. You see them along side the Freeways, but I never notice the smell of the Orange Blossoms - too much exhaust from the moving traffic. Progress has its own price.
Written this 31st day of January 2009

Quail in my Window - 1995

Just this week I received an e-mail from Marie Taylor reminding me of this story.
It may of be interest to my family, so I will retell it here for your information.
As stated earlier, I served a Mission in Salt Lake City. As I recall it was some
time in July of 2005 when I was asked to extend my Missioin. I had been
away from home for over two years by this time, and was not sure I should stay
longer. Some time earlier in the year, I had met an ex-Bishop and his wife in
the Conference Center at a Concert. (Lee and Annette Stoddard). Annette was
excited about a sculture Lee was working on, and asked me to look at some
pictures she had of it. A young pioneer girl with outstretched arms catching a
quail in flight. She explained that a friend had taken them to a spot on the
Mississippi River across from Nauvoo where a group of Saints who had been
driven out by a mob had camped. They were in very poor condition due to the
weather and lack of proper shelter, clothing and food. Just as the Lord had cared
for the Children of Isreal in the wilderness feeding them with Manna, here in this
lonely place the Lord sent quail in large numbers, so tame that the starving Saints
could catch them without much effort. Thus they were saved.
A non-member had taken it upon himself to start a Park on that spot, so tourists
could stop and look upon the beauty where the Temple had once stood, and a new
one is now seen. Lee was so inspired he started this project and was now in the
process of getting Church permission to place a life size model at the spot.
(I have'nt heard if he got such permission, but if he did, it would be inspiring.)
I never gave it much thought following that encounter, but in July of 2005
I had the following experience that made me recall it.
On a Saturday morning I had a call from a Missionary who had gone home.
(I guess I should take a minute to discribe the room. I had a basement
apartment where the windows were just ground level.) As we talked, I was
standing facing the window, and much to my surprise I saw a quail grazing
outside. My windows were all on the garden side of the building, where quail
had never been seen before. As I continued my talk with the friend the quail
walked back and forth much as you see in a shooting gallery. Within a short
time another quail joined in the march, back and forth. This continued the entire
time I was on the phone. When I looked out after I had hung up, the quail had
vanished. Strange, but I again forgot about the incident.
Wednesday was my usual day for attending the Temple. After working all day,
I left and drove to the Bountiful Temple as usual and decided to dedicate this
day to meditation on whether I should accept the extention, or go home. I would
attend two sessions, and each session, I got the impression that I should accept
the extention. When I left the Temple, I had pretty well made up my mind that
I would continue on until March 2006.
The time by now was going on nine o'clock. Driving home, I passed a shopping
center that was set off the road, with lovely landscaping along the curb. As I
approached I say two quail and a clutch of babies come out of a flower bed. It
was strange as the traffic was heavy and it was not a normal place to see quail.
Just as fast as they appeared, they were gone again. How strange! I thought
about it for a moment and then recalled the telephone call and seeing the quail
outside my window. Niether time had been a normal siting. Just then the name
of the little Park across from Nauvoo came into my mind, "Linger Longer". The
Lord had given me my answer.
To make the story even more an inspiratioin - the following week when I came
back from the Temple I looked for that flower bed - there wasn't any!
written this 29th day of January 2009
P.S. In September of 2006, following my return from my Mission, three other
Missionaries and I took a road trip and visited the Temples and Church History
sites from California to Springfield, Illinois. On our return, we stopped at that
little Park. The view of the Temple was spectacular, but there was no "young
pioneer girl".

Remembering Grandpa through Grandmas' Eyes

I have already written about my meeting the "man of my dreams".
Only he wasn't when we met. Like almost every one, I liked what
I saw, but was not at all sure HE was the RIGHT one for me.
It was the time we spent together that made the choice the RIGHT
ONE.
What did he look like? Well, when he was working, he wore the
UNIFORM of any workman. He had tan shirts and pants that
were taken by the laundry and replaced each week. I think Jay
had that kind of work clothes the entire time he worked in the
shops. I never did work clothes for him, nor did his Mother that
I am aware of. When he went to driving his own Redi Mix Truck
he started out with the same thing, but ended up with jeans and
plaid shirts. Oh! that is a story in itself. I will get to it.
When Jay wasn't working he always had on gaberdine slacks,
usually tan in color and a white shirt, well starched with the cuffs
rolled up. Wing tip shoes, well polished. I rarely saw him with
a jacket. He had beautiful wavey hair. He needed glasses but
rarely wore them - too proud. He was always on time, and he
appreciated the fact that I was as well.
He took me home to meet his Mother. That was an experience
I will never forget. When we came into the house Uncle Doc
ran from the living room and slammed the door to his bedroom
as he disappeared behind it. Jays Mother was setting on a chair
so stiff I thought she might break. She didn't say much. I felt a
bit uncomfortable and was greatful we didn't stay long. I learned
then, that was the Harris side of the family. As stated before
I had known Slim or Dad for sometime, and he was not like that
at all. All the Harris family were like that. Shy, and very much
more comfortable by themselves. Aunt Jo and Aunt Trix I think
had worked more IN the public, and got over most of that.
I believe it was our second date when we went to Knotts Berry
Farm. It was not anything then like it is now. We walked around
and enjoyed the Ghost Town that was open and free. The big
thing back then was their fried chicken and berry pie that got
all the attention. We doubled with Thad Peacock and Betty Ross.
They both worked at Owens too. Thad with Jay and Betty
was my boss. They later married as well, but divorced after
some years. I remember I wore a new dress that was white
with brown and white checked ruffles. Pretty snazzey too. I
had brown suede dutch toed shoes that had a medium heel.
Jay said he knew then that he would marry me. I don't know
if it was the dress, or my personality. He said it was my
gift of gab.
Jay always worked shift work - at Owens that ment one week
days, one week swing and one week grave yard. Or was it
two weeks. Well what ever, he varied his shifts so that I would
see him either coming to work or going from work. When he
worked grave yard I would meet him in the commisary and we
would have coffee together - remember I wasn't a member of
the Church back then.
We started dating the end of January and the end of June he
was waiting for me when I put the time cards back in the racks.
He asked me what I was doing after work, I said: "nothing that
I know of". He said: "I think it is time I bought your ring". That
was my proposal. We went to the store and picked out the
rings. They were sized and ready for pick up on the 3rd of
July. To celebrate, Dad and Mom (mine) took us to see the
big fireworks display at the Los Angeles Collisium on the 4th.
We were married on the 1st of August.
During what you might call our courtship, we spent a lot of
time with Jays' friends. We were the first to get engaged and
the first to get married. Our apartment was the meeting place
for all the others until they soon followed suit. Once they
were all married, we rarely spent time with them. It could have
been the girls, or it might have just been they grew beyond
the service feeling of "sticking together".
Jay had a fabulous build and tan at that time. He was lifting
weights and doing more physical activity back then. After we
got married while he was working graveyard shift, the guys
came and took Jay with them to the beach. They went about
their activities and never paid any attention to Jay. He fell
asleep on the beach and got the last sunburn he ever had.
It was so bad that he got sick when he went to work and had
to come home. He was off work for two weeks spending
most of it on his stomach in bed. He blistered so badly, I
wondered if he wouldn't be scared. I bathed his back with
warm tea - the tanic acid was a great healing agent. I
spent hours peeling his back. Fortunately he didn't scar,
but never took his shirt off after than when he was in the
sun, and kept his neck covered as well. A real shame, as
he had always tanned so beautifully before that time.
Jay had one eyebrow that had a white patch in it. A natural
thing. It became less noticable after he grew older, but
when I first met him it was really noticable. He had the
whitest and straightest teeth. He took extra care to keep
them that way. It was a production to behold when he
combed his hair. There was a great deal of comb movement
and then that hand tapping that made me laugh. He was
not at all pleased with that, but he was so fussy with his
hair. It took him longer to get ready to go somewhere than
it did me. That reminds me of the rear vision mirror tapping.
Just a habit he had that didn't seem to do much, it was
just always something he did when he got in the car and
while he was driving as well.
Oh! I was going to tell you about the problem with the change
from white shirts that had to be starched, and if I didn't iron
them to his satisfaction, they ended back in the wash basket
to be done over. (His Mother always sent them to the laundry
but I didn't feel we could afford to have his shirts done.) When
the short sleeve plaid shirts became popular, I tried to get him
to change over to them. He refused for a long time, and then
one day, he didn't have a satisfactory white shirt available,
so he put on a plaid shirt with SHORT SLEEVES. It wasn't
all that bad. At first he tucked the tail in, but eventually he
was satisfied to leave the tail out. What a break through. I
didn't have to starch the plaid shirts and they were always
ironed to his satisfaction. What a relief!
About buying things - that too was a production. Night after
night he would sit at the kitchen table and work out on paper
all the figures. What he had, what it would cost, how he
would pay for it, how long would it take, could he fit it into the
budget? Well this would go on for weeks, even months for
some of his desired purchases.
The first new car he bought was one such production. When
he finally put the down payment on it, I felt a relief. The
night we took delivery on it we went to Mom and Dads' for
dinner. While we were setting at the dinner table it began
to rain. I thought he would break his neck getting away
from the table. When I asked where he was going, he yelled:
"my car". Before he got to the kitchen door, we were all
laughing - what could he do about it. The car would survive
a few rain drops. He stopped and turned around and smiled.
It was just such a big thing - the first NEW CAR he had
ever bought.
Jay was inventive, smart and a hard worker. He was a good
Dad. When Paul was born he took him every Saturday for
the whole day. He took him everywhere he went. I would
fix the diaper bag with all the things he would need, and
the day was then mine to do what I wanted. Mostly back
then it was doing the laundry and cleaning the apartment.
We had to wait a concider amount of time before he got
the GIRL he wanted, but the wait was worth it. They were
always the best of pals, but I can still hear him yelling for
me to come and "get this kid out of my tools". Nothing he
did was done alone if Dawn was around. She was his
shadow. I think their cooking together were some of the
best times he ever had.
When he realized that his legs were getting bad on him from
the years of working on cement floors he decided to go to
school and try for a Tool Design Engineer degree. He signed
up at Long Beach State and attended their Night Classes.
His grades were excellent. When he finished there, he was
advanced to Inspector of outgoing production. That brought
with it the Bonding as Chief Inspector for all Government
Agencies who had contracts with Kinco - the company he
worked for. He sold, then bought from himself. Quite an
honor.
His legs got worse and another change was necessary.
The figuring began again. Finally he came to me and said
he might have to morgage the house. I might have seemed
a bit hesitant because he got upset with me, which was
not normal for him. He had a temper, but rarely displayed
it, however when he did it was usually pretty apparent. I ex-
plained to him that I would support him in whatever he
wanted to do, but first I wanted him to realize if he went into
business for himself, there would be no rest. He would be busy
every day - weekends included. Jay had always been one for
planning activities for the family. We had a truck and camper -
a boat and water skiing equipment - none of this would be used.
He insisted he needed to do this. It was then I told him he could
have what ever it was we had if it would help him. With that he
went out and bought his first Redi-Mix truck and with no real
experience as a Truck Driver, he was off on what would be a long
term adventure that only ended when he retired some 30 years later.
I believe I have covered his value while being an owner operator.
It won't be necessary to go over that again. Rather I would like to tell
you that one of the things I gave him was his first computer. It
was so primitive in comparison with what we have today, that he
had to program it. He would buy magazines that had what he wanted.
He would figure out the programs he would need to do what he
wanted, then he would set at the keyboard long hours at night
putting into his weeney of a computer these long odd figured
programs that would help him keep his books and do the business
that he needed rather than doing them long hand. During the time that
he was in business I worked as well. It wasn't that we needed
the money, it was that we needed Health Insurance for us. When
I went job hunting - wage was never my concern. I was looking for
the best Insurance I could find that would take care of us should we
ever have need of it. That we did. Jay developed PAT which was an
excellerated heart beat. He had two flare ups with it. The second
one was worse than the first and he ended up in the hospital for two
weeks going through a number of tests to determine what could
be done. They apparently found what he needed, he didn't have
another attack after that. He had lots of problems but that was not
one. We moved from Pico Rivera to Taft where he worked for Hartman
Redi-Mix company. There was vertually no work in the Los Angeles
or Orange County area at that time. He with three other owner-operators
drove the length of California looking for work. On a handshake Jay
and Mac McCann were hired with their trucks for a short spell in
Taft/Bakersfield Oilfields. It turned into an 8 year job. Mac stayed
for a couple of years, but after Jay moved our family up and we moved
into our own home, he decided to try his luck back with his family -
things had become better in that area as well. When work petered out
in Taft, Jay went back to the Orange County Area where he signed
with another Broker who got work for him. He took the truck down
and started looking for a home. Dawn by then had graduated from
Taft High School, and had landed a good job with the Telephone Co.
there. It appeared she would stay in Taft. She and Pauls fiancee
Jan Nelson took over the house and I went to Anaheim, California with
Jay where we found and bought another home.
Dawn didn't stay in Taft after all. She moved to Anaheim with us and
lived with us until she and a friend took an apartment of their own.
Jay worked all over the Orange County area, again making a reputation
for himself in the trade.
One winter - the rainiest in years, Jay spent his time off by picking
up damaged furniture at the Sears Outlet in Santa Ana and bringing
it back like new. Dawn had married by then, and he was able
to help the young couple furnish the new house they bought. He did
so enjoy doing all that work. Such a satisfaction to repair or rebuild
and make something of what could have ended up as junk. Another
of his extending his abilities by taking on projects that were not in
his normal line of work. He was fortunate to have that large covered
patio to work under cover in the rain.
The kitchen at the Anaheim home was not the best. He took out the
large sliding glass door and replaced it with the window he took out
of the back bedroom. Then he opened the wall where the air condi-
tioner was and put in a regular door. He put new cabinets in and
built a special area for the large Micro Wave Oven. All in all it changed
things to a wonderful degree.
Where he had removed the window in the back bedroom he put in
the sliding glass door and walled in the covered patio so it
was turned into a setting room off the bedroom. (we understand the
Realtor who bought the place put a fireplace in one of the walls).
Jay was ready to retire by then. He was restless, but could not see
himself making another move. While I was in Atascadero on a visit
with Dawn I investigated a new building developement that was being
built in Paso Robles. I went up to talk to the people, and found it
might be worth an investment and a move for us. Jay fought the idea
but I told him not to count it out until he had looked at it. After a
long and lengthy "figuring" he decided to sell and build. The women
that came to list our house told us we would never get the money
we wanted for the place. Nothing had sold in that particular
tract in some time, and nothing for the price Jay said he needed. So
he set about painting the place inside and out. With the improvements
he had made on the inside we felt we were asking a fair price and
it was listed. It was April 15th. The lady came by and said she was
busy and would be by the next morning at 9 a.m. to place the sign
up and there would be a "walk through" with Realtors that afternoon.
We said fine. She held little hope that the walk through would gain
any interest in the property. When we came home from work there was
a group of people in the culdesac (sp) we lived in standing by their cars
talking. The listing Realtor came over to us as we got out of our cars
and asked if we could leave for a couple of hours. We left and went
out to dinner. When we came back we received a call asking if we would
allow her and another Realtor to come by. We said, sure. The Realtor
that bought the house said he had seen that tract go up, and had not
felt it was worth looking at to sell, or buy, but when he came through
and saw all the improvements that had been done to the house he was
impressed and wanted to buy the place - but not at out price. He would
give us an extra thousand dollars because he wanted to use another
lender. The house that was not sellable, sold in 12 hours for more money
than we were asking. Jay scored again!
When we were ready to build in Paso Robles a contractor friend of Jays
told him to make sure he got lean releases for every phase of the building
as we would be paying cash. Jay insisted on those lean releases and
received them. Good thing. As in the first home we had bought in Norwalk,
the contractor was using our name and our good credit to finance the rest
of his building. Of all the homes built in this area, ours was the only one
that was not bedeviled by sub contractors that needed payment for the
work they had done. What a blessing from the good work that Jay had
done for so many in the past.
I have other things I will share about Grandpa, but not at this time. He was
a very special person, and we are so blessed to have had him as the
Patriarch of our family.
written this 12th day of January 2009

How I Got into the Swim of Things!

When we moved from 55th Street to 2914 Belgrave Avenue in
Huntington Park, California it was a blessing. Not only that we
had more room for the family, but that we lived right across the
Street from Huntington Park High School. There were Tennis
Courts, the Track and Football Field, Basketball Gym and the
Plunge. Yes the High School had an Indoor Pool.
Ralph was the first to have taken advantage of it because he
was in High School when we moved from the East. Ron and I
had not had the advantage - that is until now. Ron was always
the Basketball Player of the family. Ralph and I were the
swimmers.
The Pool was open every summer and we took full advantage
of the facility. I was only 8 years old when we moved there,
but I loved going and soon learned to swim. I admit my first
days were hanging on to the side of the pool, but before long
I went from dog paddle to swim head held high and finally
doing the Australian Crawl with the best of them. From there
I got brave enough to take on the deep end of the pool and
finally to jump then dive off the spring board. My bravery never
advanced enough to get on the high diving board however.
I knew enough that I was able to assist others in learning how
to dive from the side of the pool and the spring board.
I took advantage of all the YMCA classes and advanced in
their swimming program that was held at the Pool. This took
me into the Life Saving program. I passed all of those as
well and was hired by the Summer Program as a Life Guard
when I was a Sophmore and Junior; then by the Night School
in my Senior year teaching swimming to those who needed
my help. I remember teaching a lady, I believe she was in
her 70's who wanted to learn to swim before she died. She
had such a fear of the water. Getting her face in it was such
a trial. I worked with her for some time, but just couldn't
seem to help her. One night I asked her where she felt the
very safest. She said in her bed. I asked her to take a
large bowl of water and place it on her night stand, set on
her bed and put her face in it. She did this for a number of
nights and when she came to the pool she was able to do
it without much stress. With practice, she was swimming
in no time.
How I loved my time there in the Pool. The other Life Guards
were great friends, and we had the Pool all to ourselves in
between the various Groups. I guess the hardest time
was when the Boys were allowed the Pool to themselves.
Keeping them from running and jumping on their friends was
the biggest problem we had. I remember having trouble with
a certain guy who was just a bit bigger than I was - which is
not saying much, as I was usually the smallest one on the
side lines. He became so troublesome I had to throw him
out. He was a bit difficult to handle. By the time I got him
to the door to the Mens Locker Room he began to push me
which was not the smartest thing to do. I have a very short
and quick temper. I have learned to control it a lot better
than I did back then. He pushed me just once to many times
and I socked him. Fortunately for me he had a glass jaw.
He fell like a ton of bricks and his friends had to carry him
out. I became somewhat of a meany from then on out, but
I found it kept me from having trouble with any of them from
then on. Thank Goodness for "glass jaws".
I also was a Life Guard during my PE classes in my Junior
and Senior Years. I usually was assigned the deep end
and a diving class. One such day, I was working with a
group of girls when spashing at the shallow end got my full
attention. I heard the teacher yell at her class and I took
off at about the same time another Guard from the other
side of the pool. I hit the water and came up at full speed
I got to the girl first and reached down and pulled her up
for air. She was not breathing by then. I helped the other
life guard and the teacher get her with those on the side
who pulled her out of the water. I got out and gave her
"artifical resperation" (the old fashion way). She came
around finally. An Ambulence was called and she was
taken to the hospital. She was fine after a check up in
Emergency. When she returned to school I asked her
why she hadn't put her feet down. She was in 4 feet of
water and she was well over 5 feet 6 inches tall. Her reply
was she got scared. How sad it would have been if she
had of drowned in "shallow water".
I think the greatest feeling I had while a life guard was
when the oldest guard Chloe brough her swim finns I
had never seen them before. She allowed me to wear
them when she wasn't and they sent me through the
water faster than I had ever gone before. I loved it.
I will always cherish the time I spent there in the old
HP Plunge. Great experience, fun and lots of friends.
I suppose I will always be remembered for the deep
tan I had and that yellow bathing suit. Made quite a
show setting on the sidelines with a towel over my
shoulders. Those were the "good old days".
written this 12 day of January 2009

Shall We Dance

When I was about 7 years old, that was not a question, it was just
about a positive. It was the day of the Meglin Kiddies. A dance
studio that trained the talented youngsters for the movie musicals.
Every stage mother wanted her "little darling" to become a BIG
star. That is not how I got envolved however. This is MY STORY!
My parents were concerned because I had such flat feet. I was
a very tiny person - at one time Mom even took me to the Dr. to
see if I might be a midget. Of course I wasn't, but I wore "O" size
shoes when I was a year old. Then when I did grow, my "little
feet" were soooo flat that it worried her still.
One day while walking up Pacific Blvd. from where we lived on
55th Street Mom saw a sign in an upstairs window of a building
"Dance Studio". Well she decided to take me up and see if I
could join one of their Tap Classes. Of course I could. Hey, it
was still the recovery period from the depression, and everyone
was trying to make a living with what talent they had. I don't
remember the teachers name, but she reminded me of one of
those aging stars from the Silent Movie days. Lots of makeup
and Oh, Soooo dressed to kill. She always wore black dresses
with white collars. To keep everyone in step, she tapped a long
stick on the floor. Pity the poor little girl who missed the beat!
Tap Shoes were no cheap item then, and having them, made me
very special - well at least to myself anyway. I can't say that I
was very good at it, but with the satin outfit that Mom made me,
I was a bit dashing, even if I do say so myself, and of course
no respectable young girl would have lived without "Shirley Temple"
curls. How I hated them. Mom would patiently wrap my long
hair around her finger and make those long bouncy curls. Uck!
One day we happened to be in the Studio when a Mrs. Long,
I don't know what her first name was, she taugh a small class
of ballet. Mom talked to her and she said she would be happy
to take me into the class. Thus ended my Tap Dancing Days.
(I would never dance with Mickey Rooney or Donald O'Connor -
how sad!)
Once I started ballet, it seemed I found my nitch. We went from
group, to private lessons and introduction to toe shoes. Well I
have to tell you that in itself was an experience. The folks had
to take me to Hollywood to a special shoe maker. This guy
looked just like Bella Lagosi. Scared me half to death when I
first went in. He had a very shabby, hole in the wall sort of
shop. He was really very kind and nice after I got past the
initial scare. He looked at my feet and said he could make a
shoe for me. Mom would have to use lambs wool to wrap my
toes before I put them in the toe shoe, that was to keep my
toes padded so I wouldn't wear blisters. In a week or so, we
returned and I saw my first, special made toe shoes. Oh! they
were beautiful. Pink Satin with long pink ribbons. The ribbons
did not last long, they cut into my legs too badly. Mom was
able to attach elastic so that the straps kept the shoes on
just as well.
Mrs. Long was quick to work out routines for me and I was on
my way as a successful Toe Dancer. In time I became good
enough she introduced Toe Tapping. By then I had worn the
first pair of shoes down to where I needed a new pair, so we
took the old ones back and the shoe maker put taps on the
old shoes and I got a new pair for ballet routines. My folks
must have expended a great deal of money to do all of this, I
was not aware of the prices then, but only guess-ta-met what
it cost, and what they must have sacraficed for all of that.
I didn't add that after all of this the folks also included singing
lessons with Mrs. Spezak who lived down the street next
to the small store in the neighborhood. This is where the start
of my performing professionally came in. Now don't get too
excited. You call it professional because you get paid. I
got the large sum of fifty cents when I danced and twenty-five
when I only had to sing. Well, I wasn't a Meglin Kiddy, but I
did dance and sing at some of the nicest Hungarian Clubs in
the Los Angeles Area.
Mom made my costumes and sometimes girls who had out
grown their nice costumes Mom would offer to buy if the price
was not too much. Hold on to your hats, I did a Bubble Dance
on Toe Shoes. Dad would blow up the ballons before I would
go on and then have to deflate them when the routine was
over. Do I remember what I wore? Of Course! A cute swin
suit type, satin under a lovely organza float that had a ribbon
tie to keep it from floating away as I danced and threw the
balloons in the air and caught them. How cute! I got a lot
of attention with that number. Another great audience pleaser
was the Russian Toe Tap number that I did. It was a show
stopper as I did the Russian Kick as a smash ending. That
was the number that got me noticed by the Hollywood Talent
Scouts. They came back stage and talked to Mom and Dad
about me doing a Movie - You probably have seen it, "Anchors
Aweigh" with Gene Kelly. I would have been the little girl that
danced around the well with Gene Kelly in that one brief scene.
Only when they asked me if I wanted to do it, I told them NO!
I had had a good many of my friends who danced with me go
do a picture, and the stories they told about their experiences
told me I was not interested. Dancing in the Clubs had
exposed me to far too many old men that liked "little girls".
Well that was the end of my dancing days. Mrs. Long was
furious that I would not take the job. It would have ment a
great deal of work for her. She didn't have time to waste on a
student that would not advance themselves and her.
This all covered about 6 years of my life. I wasn't dancing at
the age of 13. Probably just as well.
I should add this side note for you. This was still during the
time that Vaudeville was still struggling to stay alive. Almost
every Theatre that was worth anything had a Vaudeville "spot"
in between the major feature and the "B" picture playing with
it. During these breaks, a few Acts would come out and
entertain the people. Great show case for local talent. Some
Theatres still had some of the Old Stars of Vaudeville, but
the smaller theatres used local talent to fill their bill of fare.
These were Matinee and one Evening Show. We kept busy
on Saturdays and Sundays and some of the Evening Shows.
It made it hard to do your homework and keep up with the
other things in your life. Lessons and Shows that was pretty
much my life from age 8 to 13.
What was the benefit? Well I don't have flat feet, so it paid
off pretty well. Am I sorry that I didn't take the chance to be
a Movie Star? Well that little girl who DID dance with Gene
Kelly only made one other movie. It was with Esther Williams.
I might have made it that far, but it really doesn't matter to me.
I shouldn't leave this without telling you that beside Vaudeville
acts, they also gave away dishes and other prizes. It was
quite a time to be living. Well it filled the Theatres.
I have had the best life, and the best family anyone could ask
for. There was nothing that Hollywood could have offered that
would make up for what I could have lost if I had taken that
chance.
Life is made up of choices, I think I made the right one!
written this 12 day of January 2009

About OUR Patriarchcal Blessings

I would like you to know about these - not in detail of course, but from what we learned and keep learning from having them.

As you know Edith Annie Hall Smith Rosenberg learned about the Church when she was recovering from the injuries she suffered in the automobile accident that killed her husband, my Dad, John Charles Smith in July 1955. When she decided to get her blessing she asked that I go with her. I may have a copy somewhere, but I don't know at this writting just where it might be. I just wanted you to know something about the experience. She was nervous, I don't know why, but she was. I sat in the room with her, and was amazed at the length of her Blessing. She was in her 70's at the time. One of the things that was promised her was that she would live to see her family "come into the Church". I thought that was a bit strange. None of them had been exposed to the Gospel that I knew of, and they all lived in Ohio so would not have had the necessary
knowledge to make them pron to any interest. And then just when I thought the Patriach was about to close he said the most amazing thing. "When you are in the twilight of your life" I sort of thought she might have just reached that stage, but he went ahead and continued blessing her. She lived long enough to work 10 years as an Ordinance Worker in the Los Angeles Temple, and do a great job at teaching the 3 year olds in Sunday School. The thing that was outstanding is that the last of her family passed away during those last 13 years and she was able to submit there names and have the Ordinances and Sealings done for them and their families. Thus filling that blessing of "living to see her family come into the Church." I am sure there were many other things we could point to as being literally fulfilled, but this one stands out - mainly because it seemed so unlikely to happen.

Jay Ford Rosenberg was a reluctant soul. It took me months to get him to ask for a recommend to get his Blessing. May I quote part of the opening of the Blessing he received. The first paragraph tells him what a Blessing is and how it should be used. The second pargraph, second sentence: "The Lord is especially pleased that you have seen fit to apply for a blessing". More than my ears perked up at that! As unlikely as it seemed at the time May 1956, he was told: "the time shall come when you enter into the House of the Lord". He did on the 20th day of August of that same year. He had no thought or idea of doing so at the time that Blessing was given. He was told: "at present you are living far below your possibilities - extend yourself" He was admonished to "seek out his ancestors". That he did, and continued to do. This part is SPECIAL: "I perceive that your name is on the Lambs Book of Life - make sure that it is always there." and again: "stand with the light within yourself. Do not walk in darkness at noon time." Of course those who are named in the Lambs Book of Life are those who have earned the Celestial Kingdoms greatest blessings. I wondered for years what: "walking in darkness at noon time" ment. Through study and reading I have leaned that means, one does not stumble in darkness when the light of the Gospel has been restored. He had that light within himself, he just had to let it shine. Before closing he was promised: "You shall labor with your resurrected body, with assigned responsibilities." I am not sure that Jay ever really grasped the full meaning of his Blessing. He was a valiant spirit before he came here, and he was able to build but a portion of what his capabilities were while here. He did have the spirit of discernment. He was faithful to the calls he received. Serving a Mission was not something he would have done in his youth, but he was able to fill an honorable Mission as a Senior. He was an Ordinance Worker in the Los
Angeles Temple and filled his calling there with great success.

Eileen Charmaine Smith Rosenberg is one of a very few that have received two Blessings. The first in December of 1954 and the second in April 1967. My first Blessing was given about two months after I was baptized. It states: "This blessing given at this period of your life gives you opportunities to go forward with increased knowledge". When I think about how little I knew and understood at that time, I can see the LORD was certainly aware of me. The blessing however did not pronounce my lineage. Rather it stated: "Thou are of the seed within the house of Isreal, even of that which is glorious in the sight of our Heanvely Father, the lineage that is within you is a blessing unto mankind, and before this world enters into the Millennium shall be important in the work of our Father in Heaven." For years I struggled with this declaration. It could mean any number of the lines in Israel, but I felt I needed to know just which one. I wrote to the Partriach of the Church Eldridge Smith. He gave permission for me to receive another Blessing to receive my lineage. He suggested I just might be from Judah - because of the name Rosenberg, but we knew that was not probable. In the Second Blessing it reads: "Sister Rosenberg, you are of Ephraim and you will receive your inheritance through this lineage. Our Father in Heaven has directed that His faithful children be blessed through this lineage." I was further told: "You have a responsibillity to live as a Latter-day Saint and to bear your testimony continually of the labors of the Prophet Joseph Smith." This I have tried to do. I was further told I would labor in the House of the Lord - this call did not come for another 30 years. But I can now testify that this part of my Blessing was fulfilled: "You will have the opportunity of laboring among our Father's children in the Temple and you will receive much joy and satisfaction in so doing." My first blessing closes with this: "I seal you up with these blessings, to come forth in the morning of the First Resurrection when our LORD and Savior shall begin the Millennium, you shall be a part there of and assist in that important work, then go from that sphere of action into the Presence of your Heavenly Father."

None of this is shared to brag, but to humbly share with my family the great blessing of having the hands of a servant of the LORD laid upon ones' head and receive the "paragraphs of possibilities" that can be received if the Blessing is read and followed. These Blessings are given to help us discover who we really are, and what we can receive at the hand of a loving Heavenly Father. It is and has ever been His pleasure to give His children their needs. Some come from obedience, others from the trials we pass through in this portion of our lives. When trials come, we are not to set down and ask "why me", but rather seek to find out "what was I ment to learn?" We grow in stature as we age, we grow in spirit as we use every experience as a tool to make all the rest of our experiences valuable. My Dad always taught us that: "nothing happens that isn't for our good." Even the hard lessons, the trying lessons, those that are even cruel. The LORD, after hearing Joseph ask: "How Long Oh LORD?" answered: "the LORD has decended beneath all of these, art thou better than HE?" No matter how hard this life may seem, it could never compare with what our LORD and Savior did for us. Lament, we will, I am sure. However to fall is not the end of the race. It will never be won until we cross the finish line - better put - endure to the end. To all those who may come after - you are worth what ever it takes to get you to that finish line. Skinned knees, twisted ankles, brused, broken or torn, it will never show when you come forward in the renewed and resurrected body each of us has been promised. It would be a shame to take such a tabernacle anyplace but into the presence of our Heavenly Father, and not just to make a report, but to live within His presence forever. This is the wish I have for each of you. I too wish as did the Savior that none will chose to lose here what we can have with a sure faith in the Gospel, and service in His Kingdom, here and hereafter.
written this 11 day of January 2009

I remember mom - Edith Anne Hall Smith Rosenberg

My Mom was the youngest of a large family. The only member of her family born out of the State of Ohio. She was born in the small town of Springhill, Warren County, Iowa. The family did not stay there long after she was born. Her Dad James Madison Hall got into some trouble.
Apparently Grand Ma Hall wanted the family away from any scandal so took them back to Ohio to await "Jim" to get things straight and join them there. Luther and Simon stayed with their Dad to settle up the business of selling the farm and ranch along with the live stock, etc. When the business was settled he took the two boys to the train, gave them their tickets to Ohio and pressed one silver dollar into their hand and sent them on to their Mother. He was never seen nor heard of again.
Mom was raised without a Dad and felt robbed. All her brothers and sisters had had a Dad. Her friends and acquaintences had a Dad and she never had one. It stayed with her throughout her life. It effected her in a way that I don't think any of us realized. Her Mother had to work hard, so did all the kids. Grandma Hall ran a boarding house to make ends meet. That would have been quite a chore with 8 kids of her own to house. Where did all the room come from? Mom told of standing on a milk crate at the tender age of 8 making pies to feed the boarders and family. Eight pies at a time. No wonder she was a great pie maker! She was never allowed to cry because: "It will upset Mom". To be the youngest and never allowed to show an emotion, that was a real tough up bringing. Grandma Hall was a "confinement nurse" and "midwife". She would be away for days on cases. The girls had to take over the care of the house and meals while she was away. The boys were all busy at jobs in the potteries so were not available to take care of things at the house. Eunice was the oldest girl and got married and left home so
Olive and Mom were the ones to do the work, as I suppose. Finally it was just Grandma and Mom then Mom went into the potteries at the age of 13 to help with finances. One of the stories that I remember her telling is how, when they would go to church on Sunday, or school on the week days, they would go barefoot until they were in site of the Church or School then they would set down, wipe their feet and put on their shoes and stockings. This was so they would not wear out their shoes. Like pants for the boys and dresses for the girls were always passed down, so were their shoes. Mom had the harder time as she wore a "b" width while Olive wore "a". Mom always had corns from wearing shoes that were too tight. Mom met Dad on a blind date when she was 18 and they had a very short courtship. When they married they lived with Grandma Hall until they could get their own home which was just before Ralph was born in 1920. The folks always took care of the needs of Grandma Hall. She finally got rid of her house and spend time living with one of her children or the other until she passed away in 1938. I have written elsewhere about Mom and her bad health so I won't go into it again, but when we moved to California it was a separation from her family. She would wirte, and some of them came to California to visit, but she only made one trip back. That trip was by Greyhound Bus in the summer of 1938 - just a few months before Grandma Hall passed away. I think she was always greatful that she went back then. This trip was to allow Dad the time and space to find a home
with care for Carrie, Dads Step-mother. She had become a handful, and too much for Mom to deal with. Dad found a state facility that was inexpensive that could take care of Carrie. She was moved to another place when she went blind. She passed away finally in 1939. I had a three year run here. Charles Smith died in 1937, Hannah Anna Gill Hall in 1938 and Carrena Maybell Bowman Smith in 1939. These were very hard years for Mom. She loved her father- in-law and her Mom. Mom struggled through the Second World War with her sons in the service and her husband working 12 and 14 hour days in the War effort building airplanes and helping dream up new and better ones. She made great meals from very little during the War years when Dad would invite some of the "boys" home for a good home cooked meal. It was always a treat for me as well. Having someone at home for a little while.
After the War Mom was busy with PTA and other interests. She was always busy with something. She would crochet and finally learned to knit. I guess keeping busy was one of those things that she had to do when she was young, and something she never outgrew. I don't believe that she and I had a great relationship. Maybe she was a bit jealous of my having a Dad and our being so close. We did develope a closer relationship after Dad was killed. She was hurt and
took a long time to get back on her feet. She stayed with my family during this time, and began to be exposed to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Missionaries contacted her after she went to her own home. When she was ready for baptism she called Jay to do it, and from then on, her and I did a great many things together pertaining to the Church. It was great fun. When the City of Huntington Park, Los Angeles County, California took her home to build condominiums in 1983 she moved into a Senior Apartment Complex not far from where we lived in Anaheim, California and she and I were busy until she had a stroke and passed away in 1984. Ron and I had planned a trip to Hawaii for her for her birthday in February that year. She had such a great time - she and Dad had gone in the '70s and she had always wanted to go back. While on a tour the day of her Birthday the bus driver, tour guide and folks on the tour got her the biggest pineapple I have ever seen and gave it to her when we entered the bus following one of the stops, while they all sang "Happy Birthday" to her. She was so thrilled. She was 83.
We carried that darn thing around with us even had it packed for the plane ride home. She had it cut into pieces and shared it with the other tenents in the Apartment Complex she lived it, it was a real treat for everyone there - real pineapple from Hawaii. Mom was a hero for the day.
Mom had been an Ordinance Worker in the Los Angeles Temple for 10 years and had just finished her weekly assignment there when she had the stroke and was gone in just a few hours. Again I was so blessed to have her friends from the Church and Temple give such loving and sweet testimonies of her that my sorry was eased greatly. My parents are side by side at Forest Lawn, Glendale, Los Angeles County, California. The family has a living memorial set up for them so that floral tributes are placed on their cripts during the year. Mother was so faithful to go and decorate everyones graves during her lifetime, we felt she would like us to do this for her and Dad. written this 10th day of January 2009

John Charles Smith - My Dad

Dad was born in England and came to the United States just a couple years later with his parents: Charles Smith and Eliza Bunn Smith. It was a short stay as Eliza did not like the "Colonies" and went back to England, taking Dad with her. A short time after that, she gave Dad
to his Paternal Grand Mother Ellen Frost Horton Smith to raise. I have since learned this was a way to get an annulment from a marriage in England. Anyway, Dad was with Ellen Smith until she brought him to to stay with his father who had remarried. He married a widow by the
name of Carrena Maybell Bowman McIntyre. She had no children, and was not a very good Step-Mother. Dad had, or at least what I assumed to be a great relationship with his Maternal Grand Parents: John Bunn and Maria Chatting Bunn. Ellen took him to visit them before he left to come to the USA. She however would not go into the house with him, but sat in her buggy until he had his time in the house. It wasn't until 2005 I found out that the Bunn family was quite large and Dad had an Aunt that was born the same year that he was. No wonder he enjoyed his visits. Being raised with adults all the time, the change with so many children must have been a delight for one so young.
When Dad came to live in the USA, that was in the State of Ohio. His Dad worked in the potteries in East Liverpool or Wellsville. Dad went to work at an early age and had little chance for education. He had a great mind, and was an avid reader. This is how he learned all he knew - self educated. He was a natural born machanic and earned his living and gleaned all the training he could at an early age. He went on to become a Class A Machanic and eventually a skilled Model
Maker in the Airplane and Rocket industries. He was what you would call a 100 pound weakling. When the First World War started, he signed up for the Draft, but also tried a number of times to enlist in the Navy. He was too light weight. The last time he went, he ate three pounds of bananas to get his weight up, but still fell short the required limit. He wasn't "four F" he was just "skinny". I never knew my Dad to weigh much. He was a lean machine. When he had all that trouble getting into the service he got the "Charles Atlas" course, and beefed up his muscles, but he still was not overly heavy. He had a nice build, and kept up his exercise program, or I supposed he did, as he looked great even in his 50's. I don't ever remember my Dad spanking any of us. He was quick to lift us of the ground with the inside of his foot however. We got the
message. It didn't hurt, but it sure got our attention. He would not tolerate any sass or back talk to Mom. That was an absolute No No at our house. I never questioned that my parents loved each other. They were not kissey, huggey or anything like that. It was just that when
Dad came home everynight, Mom was always at the stove working on dinner. Dad would slap her on the fanny and greet her then go to the kitchen sink and wash his hands. I don't know why he didn't use the bath room sink, I guess it was just habit. They didn't have bathrooms
when he was growing up. Dad had a special way of washing his hands. I don't think I could ever
explain it, you had to see it. The three of us kids would hang on the drain board and watch him. It was quite a show to us kids. I never quite grasp how he did it, but I sure loved to watch him systematically scrub his hand in that very maticulous way. Dad had lovely hands for a man. They were fairly large, and very square. He had very distinct finger nails that had lovely moons. Ron has the nearest I can think of in the family. My son Pauls hands are quite a bit like Dads, without the Moons on the nails.
Dad was an avid gardener. I guess that was something that he did when he was a kid growing up. I don't think that there was much money in the family when Dad was young. I know he told of his Step-mother taking money from him to buy things for her neices and nephews. She was
not a very loving women. She lived until I was 9 years old, and not at all like any Grand Mother that I would have wanted. She was always telling me things would kill me. Like one Sunday I remember begging for a piece of raw potato when Mom was peeling them for dinner. We had
always done that at home. Carrie told me it would kill me if I ate raw potato. I never asked for anything when she was around after that. My Dad was the most generous man. He would give Mom half of any over time pay he got. It was hers to do with as she wished. Mom always had money. She was as tight fisted as anyone I have ever known. Dad was good to Moms Mother. I didn't learn until after Dads death in 1955 that Grand Ma Hall never liked Dad. I don't know why she wouldn't as he was the best guy. He did for her all her life, and was very respectful. I guess she may have felt he wasn't good enough for Mom. After all she was the Baby of the Hall family. What ever, it has all worked itself out by now I am sure. I know she didn't have much use for foreigners. That may have been it too, Dad being English ? I believe I had one of the finest Dads in the world. He was fair, he was funny, he was smart and he was loving. He always told us that we were raised with all the information we needed to be successful, what we did with it was up to us, but he would never bail us out of jail. If we were dumb enough to get into trouble we had better be smart enough to get out of it. I have always cherished his counsel. I lost my best friend the day he was killed in an automobile accident. It was late at night when the accident happened - the next day as I dealt with my deep sorrow over his loss, a thought came to me - "but the sun came up didn't it?" That it did, and it has done so everyday since. Life goes on, and we do too. I am greatful that the outpouring of love and sympathy shown when he passed was so outstanding. It was a testimony to me that a lot of other people thought My Dad was as Special as I knew him to be.
written this 10th day of January 2009

Some Poetry Penned by Grandma

For Me and My Guy

I have loved you, through lifes many trials.
Over smooth or rough roads, across many miles.
Our marriage was not "until death do us part",
This relationship was eternal, right from the start.

Time now stands quietly awaiting that greeting,
That glorious moment of our eternal meeting.
Faith has cemented this love we have shared,
Along lifes highway where we planned, and we dared.

Yes! planned for the future of family and companion,
In times of great joy, sweet love with our planning.
Sweethearts forever is what we envisioned,
Within Gods' plan it was fully commissioned.

Now parted by death - who is our friend in disguise,
Lifting us beyond these earthly skies.
Today your eternity already started,
Soon we will scarse feel we have been parted.

Hope glows before me - You'll be there,
Going before to plan and prepare.
Love lights my path each remaining day of my life,
For we'll be together where there is no more strife.

God loves us, you and I, as now we're apart,
His love binds us both, in spirit and in heart.
Resurrection; that great gift for one and for all,
So special to us - for we understand its' call.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

March 2003 - Remembering Jay

Beyond earths sunsets - through paradise doors,
Passed our beloved whom we all adored.
Sleeping in Christ - his body now resting,
Beyond mortal trials and these earthly testings.

We all have shed tears at this time of our parting,
Knowing true life for him or her is just starting.
Returning home from whence he or she came,
Renewing relationshiops and hearing his or her name.

Life has no stops - it has no places for rest,
Each simply continues - enduring lifes test.
Rewards do await us - they are both large and small,
The way he or she passes, is awaiting us all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aug 1984 - Granny

I've gone home to my rest and my family I'll greet,
Friends and realatives I will happily meet.
Reviewing the many joys known from our past,
My mortal body is resting - my spirit is free at last.

Death is but one doorway through which we must enter,
A kingdom of glory, a new life, with exciting adventure.
Life has no beginning - and so has no end,
Though the road may be rocky with many a bend.

Our true happiness comes from knowing eternal,
Is more than a word it is supernal.
What now I leave - the things I have known,
These too will in an eternity bloom.

This - my life - it is not over, but only begun,
I'm traveling onward - upward until I have come,
To that home I've been building by words and by deeds,
While I labored on earth amongst all of these weeds.

The Story of My Conversion

Jay and I married in 1947. I learned late in our engagement that he was a Mormon. I had never joined a Church, and as he was a member, I felt he might like to have the Wedding in the Church that he belonged to. The only things that I knew about the Mormons was that they had a lot of wives, and they wore funny underwear - or so I was told. It was Jays Aunt Josephine Dover who insisted Jay get in touch with someone and have the Wedding in the Church. So that was to be my introduction. We were married in the Huntington Park Stake House in their Lounge - it was a long narrow room with a gorgeous fireplace. We were married in front of the fireplace that had been well decorated with white flowers. Jay took me to Church the Sunday after we were married. It was a "Fast Sunday". I thought it was weird the way people got up and cried and talk about things I didn't understand. Needless to say it was not the experience that would lead to a quick interest in knowing more. I think there must have been something brewing in the background that neither Jay nor I was aware of. We bought our first home and moved into a neighborhood full of Mormons. Apparently Jays records were sent to the Ward, and he was contacted. He hadn't been active since leaving for the Navy in 1945, so didn't show much interest. That didn't dampen the feelings of the Members. They invited us to some Ward Activities. I enjoyed myself, no one pressed me to do anything, and it was for sure they weren't going to get Jay involved. We lost that house which was in Norwalk, California and moved to Rivera, California. The city was annexed some time after we moved there and the name was joined with the Town that joined with Rivera. It is now known as Pico Rivera. It was here in 1952 that Mormon Missionaries: Elder Lowell Taylor and Elder Keith Labrum came tracting. Jay was home and I guess told them he was already and member and wasn't really interested. They asked about his wife. He, being honest, told them I wasn't a member so they left a Book of Mormon for me. At that time Jay was working Swing Shift and I was working Days. It saved on us having a sitter for Paul, who had joined us by then. When I came home and found the Book of Mormon on the side table I wondered why Jay had brought it home after all the years we had been married, nothing more had ever been said about the Church and he certainly hadn't had any reading material about it before. Well, I dusted around it and emptied the ash trays, both Jay and I smoked at the time. When he was home on Saturday I asked him about the Book. He said it wasn't his it was mine. I asked what he meant. He said well the Missionaries had been by and left it for me, that they would be back Tuesday evening. WELL - what a revelation. If they were coming, I at least had to look at the book, so I sat down and began to read. "I NEFEE being born of goodly parents", well you know the text. I don't know how far I read - I guess that isn't really important to the story anyway. When the Missionaries came, I was polite and told them I didn't really know much about the Church even with being married to a Mormon for years. They asked if I had read any of the Book they left for me. I said yes I had. They asked if I had any questions. I did. After we had discussed the things that had brought my questions, they gathered up their books and things and asked if they could come the next week. I said sure. When they came, they asked again if I had any questions, I did, we discussed them, they gathered up their books and left. This was the way things went for weeks. No lessons - they didn't have any at that time. It was the start of the "Golden Question" "What do you know about the Mormons and would you like to know more?" They asked me to commit to baptism. I told them that I was not ready to do so. We had planned a family vacation. It was the end of June and I would talk to them more after we returned following the 4th of July week-end. On our way home from Utah, visiting Jays family there, we were in an automobile accident. I won't go into the details here, but the results were I was injured seriously and was taken to my parents home in Huntington Park to be cared for. Of course the Missionaries didn't know what had happened. They kept coming by the house but never found anyone at home. By this time Elder Lowell Taylor had been transferred out of the area. His replacement was Elder Likes. Elder Taylor called because he had seen a newspaper article about a Mrs. Rosenberg who had been serious injured in an automobile accident near Las Vegas and he wondered if it could be the same one that he had been teaching before he was transferred? To this day we have never found that the accident had been in any newspaper or on any radio news broadcast, so we have no idea how that paper came into Elder Taylors hands. The question peeked the Elders interest, so they went to the neighbors and asked about me. They learned yes I had been hurt and I was staying with my parents. I don't think I was there more than a couple of weeks when I wanted to go home. Jay brought me home, and the Missionaries finally made contact again.

My injuries made it impossible for me to walk, so the Missionaries came and carried me to and from a car so I could attend their "cottage meetings". It was here I met other "investigators" and studied the Gospel Principles. It was a wonderful experience and I bore my testimony in one of these meetings before I was ever baptized. A group of "investigators" were going to be baptized in the Orange Stake Center, in Orange, California. I was ready and Jay had no objections, he just didn't want to be involved. He was working nights and couldn't attend the services. I was still not able to walk so was carried by Elder Labrum into the water and helped out. One of the Sisters helped me in the dressing room. It was a wonderful experience for me. I am not sure just what feelings I had except I knew that it was the right thing to do, and the Missionaries had enough faith in me to go ahead even though they had never really taught me, they had just answered my questions. Apparently that was what made them feel I was ready.
I was confirmed by Elder Likes following the baptism and it was a great feeling to be numbered among the Latter-day Saints.

I know it doesn't sound exciting. It wasn't until about 20 years later when I was visiting with Elder Lowell Taylor and his family in Kaysville, Utah that I asked him why the Elders had never taught me when they came to the house. He said: "you know if you had not asked, I would not have told you, but this is why."Every time we had an appointment with you, we felt we had to
really prepare because you were no ordinary contact. So we fasted, prayed and studied very hard. When we came, we had all we wanted to share with you laid out. We opened our Scriptures and started the discussion by asking you if you had any questions. You always said yes, things you learned in the Book of Mormon. We would answer your questions and everyone was exactly what we had studied and prepared to teach you. That happened every time we came to your house. To this day, I know that what I read and what I questioned was exactly what I needed to know to further my conversion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

NOW - could my membership be in jeopardy? I believe with all my heart the automobile accident was not an accident per say. I believe that Satan had a hand in it. No one else in the
car was injured. Just bruised. Just before the crash, I was setting there thinking just how beautiful the desert was. It was just about sundown - the shadows were lovely hues of purple and red with the blue of the sky turning darker. I thought to myself what a beautiful world the LORD had made and how fortunate I was to know just how beautiful; finding it in this dry HOT country. If I should die, I would be most fortunate to have learned this. The windows were rolled down because it was over 100 degrees and as I sat there I felt a strange feeling come over me through the window. In fact it was as if I had no strength at all. Paul asked me to take his shoes off. We had made a bed for him on the back seat. I asked him to wait just a minute. It took about all I had to get up and reach over the seat to take his shoes off. Just as I finished, I heard Jay say: "what is he doing". The car swerved, and I don't remember anything else except hearing Paul crying and saying: "My Mommies Dead"over and over again. I came to and found I was pinned in the windshield of the car. I told Paul I was alright, just give me a minute and I would show him. I pushed on the glass and freed my head - leaving a goodly portion of my hair in the glass. I found that my right leg was pinned between the dash and emergency brake, making a tight pressure that kept my torn artery from bleeding out. A young man opened the car door and asked if he could help - he was a Los Angeles Deputy Sheriff on his way home from vacation. He was trained in First Aid and would help. I asked him not to touch me as I felt like my leg was broken. He eased me from where I was and put a pressure bandage over my open wound which was the means of keeping the blood from flowing. I would have bled to death in a short time if those two pressures had not been applied when they were. An ambulance came and took me back into Las Vegas where I was given emergency treatment. When the Doctor came out of surgery, he told Jay he was not sure I would be able to bend that knee again or walk normal. I am certain that the LORD was answering the prayers of the Missionaries in my behalf, my knee healed and I have been able to walk normally. That happened when I was 23 - I am 79 now and except for a bit of arthritis in the knee, I get around just fine.
Written this 5th day of January 2009

My Testimony of Joseph Smith Jr.

I don't suppose I was much different than a lot of people that come in contact with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Joseph Smith Story was a bit much for me to handle in the beginning. It was not that I just wanted to know if the story told to me was really true, but that I NEEDED to know just who Joseph Smith was. This sent me on a 17 year quest to find out for myself. I felt exploring the people who were acquainted with him could give me the right information. I began to read everything I could find on the early members of the Church who worked with or for the Prophet. It was a very interesting journey. I knew that Joseph Smith came from very humble beginnings so that was easy. The majority of those who surrounded him were much the same. For the few that were better educated or from better means all
seemed to gravitate to the young mans honesty and good works. Brigham Young was a widower who sought the Prophet and sat at his feet and learned and developed into the man he finally became. The Snow family who were better educated help him and learned from him. Heber C. Kimball and his wife Vilate became friends and worked with him. I think the greatest story is that of Willard Richards. His work and dedication to the Prophet brought us the History of the Church. What did I learn about Joseph Smith that brought about the strong Testimony I have of him today? I learned that he had an open spirit. He was an earnest seeker after knowledge and the truth. His youth was sober and he had a good heart. A boy who worked along side his Dad and brothers making a life for the rest of the family. The work was hard the days long and the rewards very scanty. He took jobs away from home to help with finances. Things were so different than the way we live today. If you didn't grow it yourself, or work hard to obtain it, you did without. At best housing was cramped and lacked a great deal of comfort. Because of the size of the family, everyone needed to contribute in some way for the good of all. Parents were respected and there was little contention - not much time for it really. Joseph was not the oldest nor the youngest in the family. He was loved by his older brothers. Hyrum became his closest friend and helper from the time Jospeh received his Vision. In all my reading I believe I discovered how very real that Vision was. How could anyone of any age have endured all that Joseph Smith suffered in his life time if he had not really seen what he said he had? I remember how easily my feelings were hurt when I was that age. I would have stayed in my room rather than have let people treat me the way they treated him. Yet, because of the family circumstances, he had to be out and about everyday. There was no escaping the harsh words or the cutting expressions of people who were on every side. It was not only the boy, it was all of his family. I don't see how Joseph could have gone on allowing his family to be so treated if he had not seen what he said he had. There was no money in it and the family needed money. There was no fame in it, not that he was looking for that anyway. Only for the truth could they have beenwilling to go on year after year with the weight of the Vision he had seen bringing the same treatment where ever they went. Moving in those days was even more difficult than it is today. Not that they had much to move, but it had to be put into a wagon and driven over hot dusty roads in the summer and through mud and slush in the winter. The family or Joseph did that a number of times. The family suffered illness, death and hunger along the way. It was difficult at best. Even when Joseph was away working, the family was in the spot light. People stopped to ask about them and where Joseph was. Could any family have put up with such treatment year in and year out without having some kind of proof, or faith that Joseph had been
honest in what he said he saw? Remember it was years before he received the Plates and began to translate the Book of Mormon. Here again is a trial. No one was allowed to see the Plates. Yet
the family was hounded by scoundrels who wanted the "Gold" for the monitary value. Here was something of great wealth, and this humble family was guardians of these valuable artifacts and they could not even see them, only protect them and Joseph. If they had to be moved, they had to be secured so they could not be found or stolen. Think of the added pressure the entire family felt with this burden placed upon them. It was Joseph who had the Vision, it was he who had the plates, but the family bore the burden right along with him. What love they had for him, and what he must have suffered knowing that they were under such strain. Well, with all this, I learned that Joseph Smith WAS "Called" to be the Prophet of this, the Last Dispensation. That he paid the price for the work he was called to do. Not that Jesus ever said it, but Joseph learned: "I never said it would be easy, I said it would be worth it." Joseph did not grow in stature, he grew in spirit and knowledge. He gained wisdom and shared what he had gained with those who sought him. They found him working cutting fire wood. It was difficult for him to get work done. If he was in the yard someone was always stopping to talk with him. Emma said he could hardly do the work of the day without being stopped so many times by people coming over to talk and ask questions. He never allowed an opportunity go by. He had time for those who wanted to know. He rarely had a home of his home. Emma was a guest in some other womens home most of her married life. Because he was not able to farm like most men, his needs and his families needs were met mostly by someone elses labor. His prayers were his means of obtaining much of what was needed. He was prayed into the lives of many. Which ment that he traveled to answer those prayers. Teaching opportunities were many and took up a great deal of his time. While he was translating the Book of Mormon he needed help with the writing. A number of people came to his aid. Not all of that experience was comforting. When Martin Harris took the 116 pages to prove to his family that the work was real, it was an awful blow to have them lost. It was a lesson Joseph would not forget. He not only lost the work, Emma lost their first child. What a burden. The Plates were returned to Moroni and Joseph was not sure that he would ever get them back. How he suffered knowing that he had failed. Knowing that with all he had gone through and was going through he would complete the translation in less that 60 some days. They were not day after day, but spread out over a space of time, but the labor to do the work took that amount of time. A poorly educated farm boy translated an unknown language into a Book about people he had never heard of - from a land he had never
seen. People with experiences and historical events a time no one knew about in his life time. A Book that has been studied by scholars over the years, and found to be true to the time and
area in which the events took place. Joseph was told it would not be his job to prove the Book, but those who did not believe would prove it. This has been true. Years of Archeology Digs
and Scholars who have gone over the land and sea stories have found the Book to be accurate. Language scholars have found the discription Joseph left to match what has been learned since
the Book was translated. When I joined the Church in 1952 much of what is know today had not been discovered. Then I had to believe on faith, but no one today has to believe the Book of Mormon on faith alone. There is sufficient proof, through the labors of non-believers who have brought the Books events into light. The stories are true, the Book is true. Joseph Smith is a true Prophet of God. He went through all the trials that was laid before him. He did the work that the LORD required of him. He bore a true testimony of all that he had learned, and what he had established. The Church was not an overnight wonder. It took a day by day struggle by the Prophet and by those who came to work with him to bring it into full flower. The work in New York, the struggles in Ohio, the disappointments of Missouri, the great accomplishments of Nauvoo and finally the great exodus and journey into the Great Salt Lake Valley that brought the Church and all that Joseph had laid the foundations for to its completeness. What started with but 6 members in a small log cabin is now the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. No longer just a beginner in a new nation, but a World Church that is giving the Gospel to all those who will hear the truth, and that truth is setting them free. Temples are being built far and wide so that all may receive their blessings. Yes! Joseph is a Prophet of God, and if we were allowed to see him in his post mortal state, we would see him working with as much dedication where he is today as ever he did while he was here in mortality. Just as Jesus "was no ordinary man" neither was Joseph. He was given a job to do - it was not easy, it was needful, and he did it. When he had finished his work - he gave his life for his friends that they could go forward and continue what he was so willing to bring forth. I know that Joseph Smith is a Prophet. I know it because it is true. I have a sure knowledge of it!
Given this the 3rd day of January 2009 in the Name of Jesus Christ - Amen

You didn't ask, but it crossed my mind

My Second Mission in Salt Lake City, Utah - Crowned with a Sleigh Ride! You know after Jay passed away I had to decide what I would do with my time. I was asked if I would return to Ordinance Work in the Los Angeles Temple, but I felt if I were to spend that much money, I could put a little more with it and go on a full time Mission. Apparently the Lord felt that was the best thing for me to do because from the time I picked up my papers from Bishop Kunz things moved as if I was jet propelled. On Wednesday I had an appointment with my Doctor for a routine check up. I took the Medical Papers along, and they took care of the things the Church required. I got my TB scratch test and was told with my allergies it was not wise to take all the shots that were listed on the forms. As it turned out, I didn't need them anyway as I was staying in the Country. The next week I discovered I had an appointment to have my routine Prophy (teeth cleaning) so I took the Dental Papers with me and they said they could do all the necessary things while I was in the office. The Dentist would come in and check me and the Tect. could take the X-ray list that was required. So in about 10 days everything I needed was ready
to be turned back over to the Bishop. All I needed was my interview with the Stake President and that was set up for the following Sunday. I had dreams of going so many places and learning so much, but the Lord already had a place in mind. It appeared I was needed back in the Mission.

Jay and I had served in from November 1991 till the end of October 1992. When my letter came it said: Report on September 4th, 2003 to Salt Lake City and the Church and Family History Mission. I was disappointed because I had "been there and done that". Where the Lord calls we go. I had plenty of time to get my things together. Having been there I knew what I would need. Paul thought I was going over board with all I gathered together, but I knew, or thought I knew, only I didn't. Instead of twelve months, I was to be extended from Sept. 4, 2003 until March 26, 2006. People say you can't leave your home and Grand Children - that isn't so. I had a new Great Grand Daughter born the 20th of August 2003 I had to say good by to. The Lord was mindful and had me welcomed home by a new Great Grand Son born just before I returned home. When I reported to the Mission I had two weeks training to get me ready for
the work I would do. I had a chance of doing so many things. All the while I was hoping I would get a neat and different assignment. Alas and alac it was not to be. I was put back in the Indexing Department. Now it was called "Records Processing". Before I left it was renamed "Indexing". Go figure. While I was there, I processed over 70 Million names. I had not lost my touch with the computer. I was able to do more, faster than many of the other Senior Missionaries in the Department. It is true you make Eternal Friends on a Mission. It is important to do things with them and share what little you have with each other. There are many Widows in the Mission, so we had opportunities to do a lot of different things. Our rules were we had every evening and week-end and were allowed to journey up to 60 miles from the Center of the Mission Field. There were plays and musical productions to see and enjoy. Temple Square was always busy and the Conference Center was the center of many grand productions as well. The Theatre in the Conference Center likewise held a number of programs that we were able to attend. As our Apartment Complex was just across the street, we could walk. We had our Ward right across the Street as well. I was called to do the Sacrament Meeting Programs and that became a source of many hours of fun putting it together. The Branch President didn't think anyone could do the job as well as I did, but when I visited later, the Sister that took over had learned enough to be able to do a great job. We never bought Program Covers - the Branch did not have the budget for that. I designed the covers each week and they were after the Lesson for Sunday School. I learned the Ensign magazine had many lovely pictures about the lessons, so I used them and picked a scripture from the lesson that went with the picture. One week our Branch President was released after about 7 years of service. I was able to do a lovely cover with he and his wife on it. It was a wonderful tribute for the time he and his wife had served the Missionaries. You see the Branch President was not a Missionary and his wife served as Relief Society President with their counselors called from the field of Missionarey Couples. Just before I left I research the Stained Glass Window that was in the Stake Center where we attended Church. It was a fascinating history. I wrote the story and put it as an incert in the Program with the picture of the Window on the cover. It was special to all the Missionaries. One of the Sisters from Canada told me she had saved every Program because they were so good. I guess that was compliment enough for the work I put into the Call.
There were a number of Sisters who loved doing Ordinances at the Temple. I had my car, so we would go every Saturday and two Sessions. It got to be a full day with that and doing our shopping. We decided we would be better off doing our Temple Work on Wednesdays and change Temples. We went to Jordon River Temple on Saturdays, but changed to Bountiful on
Wednesday nights. We still did two Sessions, but with doing the 4:30 p.m. and the 6:30 P.M. we would be home and in bed at about the same time as the other nights of the week, and then we had time to do our shopping and laundry - if we got down there early enough on Saturday. Sister Rohde and I set a goal of 100 Endowments a year while we were there. We made
it. I was able to do 200 Endowments and 400 Baptisms for Sister Kildahl. My Mission I believe was a success in many ways. Now for the Biggest Thrill. I spent three Christmas Holidays in Salt Lake City. It was the last one that gave me the opportunity to do something I had always
wanted to do - Go on a Winter Sleigh Ride. I talked to Sister Thomas about going, and she thought it was a great idea. She researched it and found the "Rocky Mountain Sleigh Company" in Park City. (We didn't give thought on how far it was up there - but it turned out we were within the Mission area). There information says: "A winter dream comes true" and did it ever. What a ride and well, you will see. Sisters Fults, Thomas, Whitehead, Neish, Myself, Adrien Peltz
and the Asst. Zone Leaders from our Dept. Elder and Sister Gerald; got in a Van and drove up to Park City. We thought we knew which of the Ranches it was, but when we got there, we were wrong. When we found the right one there were two tents near the gates. One was where we got our blankets for the ride, the other was where they had hot drinks and finger food for us to enjoy until everyone in the party had arrived. They had two sleighs going the night we went. They were rather rustic - as you can see in the picture - but it was FUN. Everyone was warmed by the hot cider and hot chocolate. That soon wore off when we climbed aboard. All the heavy
clothes and blankets were no match for the chill that was in the air. The horses were BIG and the driver told us these trips they made with a sleigh loaded with people was their winter training for the Tractor Pulls they would be doing in the Spring. It was wonderful riding along, the snow was hardly marked, except where the Sleigh was pulled through it. The moon came out and the stars were just breath taking. We asked about where we were and the driver told us Wyoming was just over the hill ahead of us. That was when we worried about being within the Mission limits. When we came to the end of the ride, we pulled up to the Ranch House. It was aglow with lights and smoke was curling up from the chimney. When we stepped inside, you
could smell the food, and the fire. The tables were covered with red and white checked table clothes and there were lights and greenery everywhere and of course and Christmas Tree. The
food had been cooked in dutch ovens and was fabulous. The girls that were serving were the same ones that had been in the tent earlier. They had everything set out. You could take as much as you wanted and go back as often as you felt like you could still eat. The surprise was they had a gentleman who played the guitar and sang along with telling the greatest stories. It was well worth the price. Expensive, yes, but money well spent. When we finished we climbed back in the Van and headed back to our homes. Checking the mileage all the way to make sure we didn't have to report to the Mission Pres. that we had wondered beyond our limits. When we pulled into the Apartment Parking Lot, we were right at 60 miles. Would we do it again? In a heart beat. The beauty of the area, the snow the ride, well it isn't an everyday occurance, but it was everything that I had hoped it could be. The dinner was the added part that made us feel like we had been taken back into a time when life was much slower and less hectic. It might have been harder, but the simple things ment more, and the beauty of the earth was enjoyed to the fullest. "How Wonderous and Great" had a whole new meaning.
Written 2 January 2009 by Eileen C. Rosenberg - the Rambling Rose

What about the day I was born?

I fear that I may have touched on this subject in one of my other "ramblings" - BUT seeings you are asking, I will give it another try. It appears before my timely or untimely arrival, my Grand
Mother Hannah Anna Gill came to stay and take care of Mother. Grandma was a "confinement nurse and midwife". She was always ready to come when the family needed her. Mom was
a bit quick when it came to ushering me into the world. She went into labor in the early hours of 7 February 1929. In those days very few people had telephones so Dad went to get the
Doctor. Now I don't know if he took the car, of if he walked. There had been a terrible storm during the night, and so the going wasn't easy from what I understand. It took a bit longer
than would have been normal. Good thing Grandma was there because she had things well in hand by the time the Doctor arrived. When everything was finished he told Mom she would
not have any more children. Grandma was a bit upset that no one said anything to her about that. She told Mom she could have checked the 'afterbirth' and could have told. Guess the
Doctor was correct, because Mom never had any more after my arrival. A note here about Mom. She never really had good health. It was hard for her in the climate there in the East. She was told she needed to go where it was warmer. She had a number of throat infections and finally had to have her tonsils removed. Not like most folks however, her health was too fragile so they had to burn hers out a little at a time. It was an awful trial for her and the entire family. While she was going through all of that, the boys, both Ralph and Ronald had to have their tonsils
out as well. They had surgery for theirs. I remember going to the Doctors house when Mom would have her treatments and waiting outside the large sliding doors into the Doctors surgery
in his big house. I don't know how Dad handled all the sickness, but when we had come to California in 1933 when Grandma Smith was in the Los Angeles General Hospital with a bladder
infection, the talk of a move to California must have come up. While we were in California the 1933 Earth Quake hit and we had the Thrill of a Lifetime experiencing that. Mom had better health after we moved to California, but she had had terpentine poisioning when she was working in the Decorating Shop in the potteries - she started when she was about 13 I believe. The effects of that on her hands came back to haunt her after we moved to 2914 Belgrave Avenue in Huntington Park. Both of her hands were effected. She had them wrapped and when they were healing the skin was loose on the palms of her hands. She had to be so careful
for a long time and wear gloves day and night and use rubber gloves when she did anything that could get her hands wet. I have often wondered how she kept going with so many trials.
Mom had had a blood disorder when she was little. I don't know if that was the reason she had so many problems, but after we moved to California and she passed through those skin problems she seemed to do much better. Some thing interesting about her that I learned much later
was that she would like to have been able to go to College and become a Lawyer. She was smart, but like Dad never had much of a chance to get an education. The boys in the family had been given more opportunities. Uncle Simon had excelled in penmanship. He was a beautiful writter.
Possibly you will learn more about the Hall Family in a further excursion into the life and times of Grandma "R"? OH - just a final bit of information - I still have my tonsils. 36 days before I turn 80 - Pretty good huh!?
Written on the 2nd day of January 2009.

Did dad and I share anything?

My Dad and I didn't really share any special interests or activities that I recall. He was protective of me when I was dancing and saw that I got to my various programs, but outside of that I do not think of anything that we had in common. My Dad your Great Grand Father John Charles Smith was as Lehi put it in the Book of Mormon: "a visionary man". He had visions
and was quick to write such things down. He had an inventive mind and was quite interested in plants and their growth. He took up grafting his rose trees. He had every one that lined the walk way of the Belgrave Avenue house with Roses that were Bouquets as they bloomed. He grew beautiful Camilia Bushes. His Orange. Grapefruit and Lemons were outstanding. Sad those things were all destroyed when the city took all that property on Belgrave Avenue
next to the High School and made Condominiums. When I got my own room I remember he bought me twin beds and a "kidney shaped table" Mom made a skirt for it. He had a glass
top cut, and then he made me a tripot holder of aluminum pipe and red plastic knobs to hold a round mirror. He made lights for it also; made of aluminum pipes. He cut my name out so the
light would show through on the mirror. It was very classy. I don't remember what happened to that. When I married and moved to my own home, I guess it got lost along with a number of other things that were left behind. Dad was an avid reader. He would spend hours in used book stores looking for something more to expand his mind. I remember when his eyes were bothering him he found a book on eye exercise and made himself a board out of aluminum and cut small pieces of colored tape that he placed on the small board. They were blue, yellow and
red. I don't recall green, but there could have been green on it as well. It was a simple thing, but he would set holding it in his hand and look first from one color and then back to another color and go back and forth changing the color he looked at with each pass. I don't know if it made his eyesight any better, but he worked at it regularly. Dad didn't have a lot of schooling, but he was self taught in a variety of different fields. He could out figure most if not all the Engineers
that he worked with. In fact when they got stuck with a project, they usually came looking for "Capt. John" to help them solve their problem. It was he who worked out the problem that Howard Huges had with the prop he designed for the pursuit plane the Army Air Corp needed for WW II. Everytime they would put the model in the wind tunnel the prop would break. Some one suggested he talk to "Capt John". Dad took the project to work with it. He found the problem and corrected it. Howard Hughes told him he would see he was rewarded for the help. That was last anything was mentioned about it. When the plane was used, Hughes took credit for the entire design and success of the plane. So much for the character of Howard Hughes. Don't believe all the tales about how smart he was. He was great only in the way he found and used others to get his fame. Dad was one of those who worked out many of the problems on the Moon Rocket. He worked in the Model Shop that designed and built the trial rockets. He took the Model back to Ohio and the Wind Tunnel there for testing. He was working on the fuel theory when he was killed in an auto crash in 1955. He was a much loved and respected man among those with whom he worked. The book in which he wrote down his visions with a number of the inventions he was working on was never found after his death. I had seen it a number of times and knew where he kept it. I believe he must have had it with him when he was killed and it was either thrown away, or someone took it for the information in it. Sad we don't have it to share with his family members.
Written by Eileen Charmaine Smith Rosenberg January 1, 2009